Institutional obstacles in large-scale retail developments in the post-socialist period - A case study of Niš, Serbia

The main objective of this paper was to research the main institutional obstacles to large-scale retail developments in the post-socialist period through a case study of the city of Niš in Serbia. The first step of the research included analyzing the institutional and policy environment for a large-scale retail development in post-socialist countries and its major systematic differences in relation to developed European countries. The second step of the research included a case-study analysis of three large-scale retail projects and their building procedures in the city of Niš, in which the strengths and weaknesses of the institutional and policy framework were identified. Factors crucial for the effective realization of large-scale retail projects in the post-socialist period are identified in the paper.